One of my New Year’s resolutions was to read more nonfiction, which is usually more educational than the novels I’ve always preferred. Being a music fan, I decided to start with music biographies.
As I recently reviewed my youth by listening to all my old Kiss records, I started my reading with that band. All four of the original members have written memoirs, so I submitted an application for each at the nearest branch of the county library.
The first to arrive was Makeup To Breakup, written by drummer Peter Criss. Here are ten pieces of information I learned about him and the band from reading that book.
1. He took drum lessons from the father of Harry Chapin, who had scored big hits like Cat’s In the Cradle and Taxi.
2. Guitarist Ace Frehley, who is also quite a talented artist, was the one who designed the lightning bolt shape in the band’s last lyrics.
3. Because his girlfriend once bragged about having an affair with Warren Beatty, Criss later fired two bullets at the television screen featuring the actor.
4. Criss and his wife once rented a house in Los Angeles owned by Vincent Price, the famous horror actor who also appeared in hit songs like Alice Cooper’s Devil’s Food and Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
5. Criss once threw a drumstick at bassist Gene Simmons during a concert, hitting him in the back of the head.
6. He and Ace Frehley once had a serious physical altercation that ironically ended up strengthening their friendship.
7. Beth, the Top Ten single, was actually written as a joke for a bandmate’s wife named Becky, who used to call constantly to check on her.
8. One of his favorite friends to party with was actor John Belushi, who was at the height of his fame with the NBC series Saturday Night Live, the hit comedy film Animal House, and the award-winning musical The Blues Brothers.
9. Actors Tom Arnold and Roseanne Barr were such devoted Kiss fans that, upon hearing a false rumor that Criss was wandering Los Angeles as a hobo, the couple drove frantically around town trying to find him.
10. The lead singer of his band Cat#1, Mike Stone, later became the front man for Queensryche.
Additional information can also be found at Makeup To Breakup, which would serve as great trivia items. For example, Criss mentioned in Chapter Twelve that his favorite song is Hotel California by the Eagles.